The Next General Conference.
By George I. Butler
AFTER careful consideration of the matter by the members of the Conference Committee, it is decided that the next session of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists will convene in the Tabernacle at Battle Creek, Mich., Oct. 30, 1884, at 9 A. M., to continue until the important business is transacted which makes it necessary to be held. There will be many most important matters to come up for consideration concerning the cause in many departments, besides the usual routine business. Our foreign work will require special attention. The financial question is one of great moment. It should have the best thought of our responsible men. The subject of city missions is one of great importance; and problems of great interest concerning it will present themselves for solution. Our educational work also demands special attention. In fact, every department of the work is worthy of the most careful thought, and should receive it at our anniversary meetings. As the cause increases, these meetings will be more and more important. A General Conference, as its name signifies, is a general council. The State Conferences should send the men to attend who can serve best as counselors,—the responsible men whom they intrust with matters which require the best judgment. We believe full delegations should be sent from our Conferences, as far as is consistent. We expect not only to attend to the business to be transacted, but that showers of God's blessing will fall. Why should we not expect this? As we near the end, may we not hope that God will bless us more and more, and that his light will more graciously shine upon us? We rejoice much that Sister White can be with us again this year. We shall not soon forget her labors at the last Conference. In conclusion, let us pray much for the blessing of God to rest upon this session of the General Conference. We want it to be a most precious season, a great encouragement to the people of God. It will be so if God blesses it, and he will bless in proportion to the desire we have for his blessing. GEO. I. BUTLER, Pres. Gen. Conf.